Baalke took a more prominent role in the personnel department after the dismissal of former general manager Scot McCloughan, and was believed to be the top in-house candidate for the position.

Earlier tonight, it was reported that the 49ers had narrowed their candidate search to Baalke and NFL Network analyst Michael Lombardi, who has reported over the last week that the job was Baalke's.

Baalke and 49ers CEO Jed York's first order of business will be the hiring of a permanent head coach, with Stanford head coach Jim Harbaugh expected to be offered a King's ransom, and perhaps more importantly, significant input on personnel matters, to jump to the NFL.

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"I firmly believe that any man’s finest hour, the greatest fulfillment of all that he holds dear, is that moment when he has worked his heart out in a good cause and lies exhausted on the field of battle – victorious."